​With the winter season already upon us, the frigid and windy weather can affect unprotected water pipes. During the fall, raking the leaves and cleaning your gutters are only two of the steps you should take before the winter. Before the temperature drops, take action to prevent your water from freezing—follow these steps to avoid a costly burst pipe (or worse).

Make sure outdoor faucets are ready for winter Since they’re outdoors and always subject to the cold temperature, this is an especially important thing to pay attention to. If your home has a separate shutoff valve, turn off the water supply to the outdoor water hoses. Also, make sure to drain them in order to prevent freezing.

Insulate pipes If you have water lines that run through the garage or crawl space, add a layer of insulation to prevent freezing. Wrap them with heat tape, newspaper, or foam to avoid them succumbing to the cold weather. Also, for pipes in the garage, keep the garage door closed as much as possible in order to prevent any issues on very cold days.

Check your filters A dirty, clogged filter is one of the most common issues that plumbers come across. If not regularly maintained, they can cause problems with your heater—homeowners are responsible for replacing furnace filters pretty regularly. Clean filters can prevent dust from flowing into your ventilation system.

Let water drip Having water constantly running through your pipes will prevent them from freezing. That can help avoid excessive pressure building up when it’s cold enough that the pipes might freeze.

Watch your home temperature while on vacation While you’ll get to escape the cold weather, your pipes cannot. Clear your pipes of water before you leave by turning off the main water valve, then turning off all water fixtures (including hot water). Open the faucet until you are sure that no more water is coming out, and then close the valves. Also, while lowering the temperature in your house will save you money, you can cause cold spells which can affect your pipes.

Preparing your home for winter isn’t complicated or costly, and can save you a lot of money. Following these steps means you wont have to replace your pipes or your furnace. If you have any questions or concerns about the water running through your house, call Team Plumbing, and we can help with anything.

The Weirdest Things Plumbers Will Find...

Isn’t it kind of funny to think that plumbers will often find more than just waste and water in your drains? Over the years, plumbers have been finding and reporting all kinds of wild and ridiculous objects, personal items, and even living creature in the drains of homes and buildings.

So where do people get the idea that flushing phones, toys, live animals, and narcotics is a good thing? Personally, we have no idea, but what we will say is that these incidents do make for some really fun stories to be shared with friends and family. These stories are sure to make you laugh, gag, and even get a little afraid of what other people are thinking when they decide to flush some of these things. These stories are truly baffling and totally fun to share, though it’s probably best to leave the toilet talk away from the dinner table.

​1) A Squirrel

Can you even possibly fathom that someone would flush a live animal or an animal carcass down the toilet? After reading this story, you may find it a little more believable. One plumber named Larry reported that he had found a dead squirrel in the toilet piping of a house. He said that judging by the location of the squirrel, it must have climbed down through a vent pipe in the roof and got stuck on the way down. Apparently, it was to stuck to climb back up the pipe and the pipe was too narrow to turn around. Since he was stuck there for quite a while, the squirrel was very bloated when it was removed.

2) Bags of Marijuana

Now most of us have seen the movie scene or the TV show where someone get into a desperate situation when they are in possession of drugs. That scene is usually followed with someone disposing of the drugs by trying to flush them down the toilet. Well apparently, that isn’t just for the silver screen. It’s a disposal method that happens in real life too. Someone must have decided a little too late that taking marijuana onto an airplane wasn’t a good idea. A plumber went on a call for a clog drain in an airport bathroom, and it made him chuckle to find a disposed bag of marijuana in the drain. He says that the airport has a lost and found, but he’s pretty sure that no one is going to go back to claim it.

3) A $10,000 Bracelet

You must have made one of the biggest mistakes of your life or have a ton of money to make this next mistake. It is hard to imagine that plumbers have found expensive jewelry that has been flushed down the drain. Fortunately in this incident, this was a total accident. One plumber got a call from a woman who had lost her expensive charm bracelet down the. When the plumber came onto the scene, the woman was crying and talking to the housekeeping staff about it. She said that one of the clasps was coming loose, and it must have fallen off into the toilet when she was using the bathroom. Then the auto-flusher went off twice. She was sure that it was gone for good. She was aso worried that her husband would be frustrated when he found out that the $10,000 + bracelet was flushed down the toilet. Thankfully, the plumber was able to detach the toilet and retrieve the bracelet from the pipes. He even cleaned off the bracelet with soap and water before he returned it.

4) Diamonds

If you thought a charm bracelet that cost as much as a car was a shocker to find in the toilet, the meaning of this next piece of jewelry may even be more shocking. When a plumber got a call about a $7,000 engagement ring that got unintentionally flushed down the toilet, he knew that his work was cut out for him. Using a fiber optic sewer camera and a coat hanger, the plumber was able to retrieve the gorgeous engagement ring successfully. What’s funny is that the husband actually complained about the price of the plumber, but his wife was happy to pay it and give him a good tip.

5) False Teeth

This was another funny and mysterious call from the bathrooms at the airport. The airport called a plumber about a clogged toilet in the men’s bathroom. The plumber assumed that it would probably be the usual, expecting to find too much toilet paper, the occasional wallet, or maybe even a cell phone that fell to its watery grave. Much to his surprise, he came to find that someone had lost a pair of dentures down the drains. We can’t imagine that after you lose your teeth down the toilet that you would ever want them back. The plumber then went to hang them in the maintenance closet next to a pair of sunglasses that were also lost down the drain, at one time.

6) Brand New Cell Phones

It is actually pretty astounding the number of cell phones and smartphones that plumbers will find in the toilet. I guess the new version of reading the paper on the john is flipping through your newsfeed on social media or using a reading app to pass the time. Can you imagine how awful it would be to lose a cell phone that is worth hundreds of dollars down the drain?

One plumber reported that he got a call about a clogged drain. He wasn’t sure what to expect or what he was dealing with, so he got out his handy sewer drain camera. After thoroughly inspecting the drain and finding nothing, he began to dismantle the toilet to dig a little deeper. To his shock, he had found a brand new iPhone 5s. It was fully boxed, and still wrapped in its plastic packaging, so he imagined that the new, unopened phone would still be intact, unharmed, and in total working condition.

It’s not just new phones that are flushed though. Plumbers get calls all of the time about finding used phones that have been accidentally flushed down the toilet.

7) A Family Photo in a Bag of Sea Shells

This next story is a little more oddly specific. One summer, a plumber got a call from a novice plumber who needed some help. A toilet was clog and likely needed to be removed from the floor and the wall to find out what was stopping it up. They ended up finding a bag of gathered sea shells with a family photo inside. It was most likely taken by a family who was on their summer beach vacation. The question still remains though, how the heck did that end up in the toilet?

The plumbers turned the bag into the lost and found, so I guess we will never know.

8) Syringes

When sad and unfortunate thing that a lot of plumbers find in the toilet are medical syringes. Most plumbers believe that the people who are using them and flushing them are inconvenienced or embarrassed by not having a biohazard bin to use while traveling, so they just end up flushing them down the toilet instead of throwing them in the trash can. Thankfully, most plumbers use special clasping devices when plumbing, so that they can keep their hands and bodies safe. They also stay up to date on their vaccines and testing so that they can prevent the transmission of diseases.

9) Other Animals

Would it shock you to know that the squirrel that we mentioned earlier isn’t the only animal that has been found in toilet plumbing before. Here is a short list of some of the most interesting animals that plumbers have found in drains before

- Iguana
- Snakes
- Cats
- Turtles
- Goldfish

Now some of the reptiles and the goldfish make sense as to how and why they would get in the toilet. Although, you are probably wondering the same thing we are. How did a cat manage to flush itself down the toilet? That’s just another plumbing mystery that the world may never know.

10) A Military Mortar Shell

Have you ever heard of the awful prank where someone throws firecrackers into a toilet to blow it up? Well, this is the more extreme version of that prank situation. In Nashville, a plumber reported finding an unexploded ordinance, also known as a mortar shell, that had been flushed down someone’s toilet. Thankfully, the mortar itself was not dangerous or functional, but that still begs the question of “who thought it was a good idea to flush a mortar shell down the tubes?”

11) A Bar of Gold

This is going to sound shocking, but it is totally true. Two Canadian plumbers actually found a gold brick in the pipes of someone’s home. Apparently the gold brick had been misplaced by the homeowners a few years ago, but here is the hard part to imagine. The gold brick was valued at over $40,000. So if one gold brick wasn’t that big of a deal to them, their home must be flushed with gold bricks.

Let’s face it, a plumbing emergency can send us into a panic pretty quickly, especially if you don’t know how to react when it happens. Taking these first steps are essential when time is of the essence, since the longer you delay, the more damage will be done to your home. Fortunately, knowing what to do you can limit the damage to your home until a plumber arrives. Here are the initial steps you can take during a plumbing emergency.

Turn off the Water!

Water can cause serious damage and is often the biggest threat when it comes to plumbing emergencies. So the very first thing you need to do when a plumbing emergency occurs is to shut off the water. Make sure you know where the water shutoff valve is in your home beforehand, so you don’t have to run around looking for it while water pours out of a cracked pipe or overflowing toilet. The sooner you can shut off the flow of water to the problem area, the better off your home will be.

Clean up the water quickly

Failure to act quickly in a plumbing emergency can lead to expensive repairs. Once the water is turned off and the flow of water is stopped, you should get the area around the problem cleaned up as quickly as possible. This prevents further damage to furniture or other objects in the area, and makes it easier for your plumber to reach the problem once they arrive. Make sure to mop up any water that’s already spilled, so as to prevent it soaking into the walls or floor.

Call us 24/7 @ (719) 226-0711. We are here to help you out when you need it.

Tips:

The main shut off valve to your house is usually located next to your water meter or where the main water line comes into your house.

For a leaking faucet, locate the shut off valve under the faucet and shut it off, but do not use a wrench to force it. If the valve won’t turn or shut off completely you may have to shut off the main shut off valve to the house.

For a leaking or running toilet remove the lid and inspect the chain and flapper to make sure it hasn’t hung up and the flapper is seating properly. If the flapper seams okay, the pull up on the float and see if the toilet stops running.

If your disposal is not running at all, find the reset button on the bottom and reset it.

For a leaking water heater turn off the cold water line that feeds your water heater, located directly above the water heater. If it won’t shut off completely, turn off the main shut-off valve to the house. Then turn off the gas or electricity to the water heater.

Team Plumbing is pleased to announce HomeAdvisor named the company a winner of the 2016 Best of HomeAdvisor Award. The Best of HomeAdvisor Award recognizes top-rated industry professionals in the HomeAdvisor network. HomeAdvisor selects recipients based on superior quality, service, and value.

“All of us here at Team Plumbing are happy to be associated with HomeAdvisor PRO. HomeAdvisor has afforded us the opportunity to reach and increase the number of satisfied clients that we may not have previously been able to without HomeAdvisor’s vigorous marketing campaign. We are proud to be the recipient of the Best of HomeAdvisor 2016 Award. We look forward to a long association with HomeAdvisor Pro.” Thomas Eaton, Owner & President.

“Each year millions of homeowners trust HomeAdvisor to help them find a pre-screened professional for their home projects,” said HomeAdvisor’s CEO Chris Terrill. “Team Plumbing’s business exemplifies this trust by exhibiting superior work practices, premier customer service, and overall being a valued resource for the home improvement industry. This prestigious award is only presented to the top professionals in the HomeAdvisor network.”

To be eligible, winners were among the highest rated service professionals in the HomeAdvisor network and had at least three reviews submitted in the previous six months. Professionals in the HomeAdvisor network undergo a criminal and financial background check prior to being accepted into the network and are customer-rated and reviewed. ​HomeAdvisor’s home services marketplace helps homeowners find pre-screened home professionals and instantly book appointments online, through HomeAdvisor’s award-winning app, and through Smart Home devices including Amazon Echo and Apple Watch. To learn more about HomeAdvisor visit HomeAdvisor.com. Access to all of HomeAdvisor’s resources is free for homeowners, with no membership or fees required. HomeAdvisor is based in Golden, Colo., and is an operating business of IAC (NASDAQ: IAC).

Whether you have recently purchased your first home, have lived in the same house for multiple years, or you have owned several homes, you already know or are learning that regular maintenance is required to keep your home running smoothly. One of the best ways to cut down on future costs ispreventative maintenance.

In an ideal world, plumbing would be a one time investment. Unfortunately it’s not, and if you don’t take care of regular maintenance you will be spending more money in the long run. Luckily, you don’t need to be a plumber to ensure you are taking the basic steps toward making things run more efficiently. While plumbing is one complete system, it is important to keep in mind the many places it is utilized in your home.

With the following plumbing checklist, you can stay on top of many common problems before they happen, which will help save you both time and money. Team Plumbing recommends going over this list at least once a year, but many homeowners find that being on the constant lookout and running through the checklist in the spring, and then again in the fall, can be helpful.Visual InspectionVisual inspections are the simplest, but also the most commonly overlooked. Being watchful and attentive of the outward signs of an inward plumbing problem can help keep larger issues at bay. From the moment you move in, you are going to want to be vigilant of any changes or irregularities.

Visual Inspection Check List

If exposed pipes are present in your home, be sure to look for any signs of leaking.

Look for corrosion. If corrosion is occurring, you will start to notice white scale around copper, brass pipes, and valves. If your home has steel pipes, the color will be more of an orange or yellow color.

For pipes that are confined to the walls or foundation of your home, look for watermarks coming through the wall, floor or ceiling, as well as puddles.

Look in toilet tanks. If any of the internal parts look broken or rusty, these should be replaced right away.

Be on the lookout for cracked or broken flooring around plumbing fixtures. This could be a result of water pooling beneath.

Inspect the water heater for signs of leaks and rust.

Make sure there are no cracks and leaking on your washing machine hoses.

Look for areas of cracked or missing caulking at bathtubs and showers. If these areas are no longer sealed, they need to be addressed.

System TestAlong with visual inspections of your plumbing, you will also want to take a hands-on approach. This will involve simple testing to see if your systems are working as they should be.System Test Check List

Check the water pressure in your shower, kitchen sink, toilet etc. If you are noticing a decrease in water pressure you may have sediment building up. This can lead to problems down the road. In addition, remove your shower head to look for signs of sediment. This is often the easiest way to know if your low pressure issue is being caused by build up.

Test the drainage speed of your appliances. Is your tub not draining quickly? Is your kitchen sink backing up where the garbage disposal is located? These are all indicators that your plumbing system may be backed up or clogged with hair or other materials. Also if your drain makes any noise or bubbles up when water is going down the pipe, this is often indicative of a plumbing issue.

Add a few drops of food coloring to your toilet tank and let it sit for 15 minutes. If there is colored water in the bowl when you return, you have a tank leak that needs to be addressed.

Flush toilets and be sure the water is swirling down properly followed by replenishing the water to the appropriate level without delay.

Make sure toilets are not wobbly or coming loose from the floor. If you can wiggle the entire toilet, this may be the sign of a leak. The area may need to be sealed once again in to the flooring to prevent future issues.

Drain the water heater periodically to assure that there is not an abundance of sentiment present.

Turn the handles on all faucets off completely and watch for drips or any other signs of leakage.

Check the walls in the bathroom by pushing on them in the areas around the sink and tube to assure no water is leaking and causing structural damage.

If you are ever concerned about any of the issues we listed above, contact your local plumbing professional at Team Plumbing. Our plumbing professionals can help diagnose minor problems before they grow, and ensure the safety of your family.

The selection of experienced, capable contractors is critical to the success of any project around your home. In order to receive the best value for your dollar, and ensure you receive quality craftsmanship, here are a few simple tips from Team Plumbing to take into consideration when choosing a contractor to work on your home.

Start with your local Better Business Bureau (BBB). Instead of playing duck, duck, goose, from a Google search, check in with the BBB and see what they and others are saying about local contractors in your area.

Make sure they are licensed and insured. Contact the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department or visit their website to verify a contractor is licensed in El Paso County. If you are outside El Paso County, be sure to check with your local Regional Building Department. Contractors should certify that their work conforms to all state and local regulations and codes.

Ask for a cost-estimate in writing for any large jobs. When shopping around for a contractor, it is always wise to request bids from three different companies. For smaller jobs, a couple quick phone calls to two or three different companies should provide you with a rough, yet accurate estimate for the work you need completed.

Ask for references or testimonials. Most companies keep a small selection of testimonials on their website or in print from satisfied customers. Companies don’t typically provide references for you to call unless you are looking to have a larger job completed.

Don’t let price be your guide. Throw out any lowball bids you may receive. A contractor who provides a price far below the others is most likely cutting corners, or worse, desperate for work. Beyond technical ability, comfort should play a role in your decision making process. Your ability to communicate and trust a contractor is an important factor. All things being equal, it is better to spend a few more dollars and get somebody you are comfortable with and trust with your home.

Set a payment agreement. For smaller jobs, Cash On Delivery or C.O.D., as it is commonly referred to is the most universal payment agreement for small to medium tasks performed on your house by a contractor. For larger jobs, payment schedules depend on the type of contractor performing work. Plumbers often use a 15% - 50% - 35% split or a 80% - 20% split for payment.

By following these simple guidelines, you should be able to easily find and hire a qualified contractor to work on your home.

Water management should be a principal concern to all Coloradans. Whether you are drinking more water to beat the heat, washing more sweaty clothes, showering more often, or gardening, when the warmth and long days of summer move in, water consumption rises significantly. There are numerous water-related responsibilities and activities associated with the changes in the temperature. As most Coloradans already know, water resources aren’t as abundant as many people think. We here in Colorado, aren’t the only state affected; the ugly truth is that many parts of the Western U.S. have experienced drought conditions for numerous years now and it goes without saying that every drop counts. On June 6th, 2014, the Governor signed a bill that will begin phasing in High-efficiency water fixture options starting in 2016. These new fixtures will be known as “WaterSense plumbing fixtures.” If you find yourself in the market for new fixtures, please ask our trained professionals about your options on being ahead of the curve. Consider some of the following tips for water conservation around the home this summer... Yard Water Savings

Drip irrigation: Drip irrigation systems, also referred to as a “drip system”, can be used to conserve water. The best part of drip irrigation systems, is you don’t need to hire a plumber for installation. The drip system consists of flexible rubber tubing with small holes that is connected on one end to an exterior spout while the rest is carefully placed near plants, bushes, and other vegetation. When the spout is turned on small amounts of water exit the holes feeding nearby plants and foliage.

Morning watering: Water your yard and garden in the early morning when water won’t evaporate quickly from the sun’s heat. Doing so will promote strong, healthy roots.

Kitchen Water Savings

Washing dishes: If necessary, let dishes soak in the sink to soften leftover crumbs and turn off water when scrubbing. Only turn on the water to rinse the dishes.

Reuse: The kitchen presents many opportunities to recycle water for the garden or plants Practical examples of recyclable kitchen water include water from boiling eggs, steaming veggies, and leftover water in the tea kettle.

Bathroom Water Savings

Toilets: Depending on the type of toilet, each push of the handle can account for several gallons of water, so don’t flush just for the sake of getting rid of a dirty tissue. A waste basket is for dirty tissues, only flush when it is truly necessary.

Brushing teeth: There’s no need to keep the water running when brushing teeth. The water truly only needs to be on when you rinse. When left on, water is simply being wasted down the drain.